Inequality In American Society: Need For Reservation In Real Terms For Depressed Section
By Dr. Vivek Kumar Srivastava
04 December, 2014
Countercurrents.org
US President Barrack Obama has accepted that black youths are unhappy. They feel that right treatment is not being accorded to them. President Obama has said that “he would use his last two years in office to address the "simmering distrust" between police and minority communities” . This is sad to learn that so much divide exists in a country which is the most attractive destination for millions of immigrants. This revelation by the President brings out, albeit not so hidden fact about the USA.
US society of today is society of inequality. There is sharp division among the whites and blacks in many respects. This class division is spread in whole US society. There is wide gap at the wealth, education and political level. The decision making power has been concentrated in the one pole, whites decide many things. Another aspect of this concentration is that frustration has peaked among the have nots, blacks feel that this society is not for them. This thought development is natural impact of the wide spread racial class based inequality in USA.
A policy report says that “In the U.S. today, the richest 1 percent of households owns 37 percent of all wealth. This toxic inequality has historical underpinnings but is perpetuated by policies and tax preferences that continue to favor the affluent. Most strikingly, it has resulted in an enormous wealth gap between white households and households of color. In 2009, a representative survey of American households revealed that the median wealth of white families was $113,149 compared with $6,325 for Latino families and $5,677 for black families” (Thomas Shapiro,Tatjana Meschede,Sam Osoro, The Roots of the Widening Racial Wealth Gap:Explaining the Black-White Economic Divide,IASP,2013)
In the similar way education sector is so costly that it usually deprives the vulnerable section of the society a possibility to gain the occupational skill of the highest order. “costs at public universities have risen 60 percent in the past two decades, with many low-income and students of color forced to hold down jobs rather than attend college full time and graduating in deep debt. Average student debt for the class of 2011 was $26,600. Student debt is an issue that affects most graduates, but black graduates are far more vulnerable: 80 percent of black students graduate with debt compared with 64 percent of white students.”(ibid)
In the political field the situation is not so rosy. The number of black representatives too lag behind the white representatives.
A recent report of US Congressional Research Service titled ‘Membership of the 113th Congress: A Profile’ published on November 24, 2014 if critically examined, shows that the real inequality at the political representation level exists in USA . The less representation is expressed at gender and ethnic level both. According to the report “A record 103 women (19.0% of total membership) serve in the 113th Congress as of November 2014, 10 more than at the beginning of the 112th Congress.
There are 45 African American Members (8.3% of the total membership) in the 113th Congress, one more than at the beginning of the 112th Congress. Forty-three serve in the House, including 2 Delegates, and 2 serve in the Senate.
There are 37 Hispanic or Latino Members in the 113th Congress, 6.9% of the total membership. Thirty-three serve in the House and four in the Senate.
Thirteen Members of the 113th Congress (2.4% of the total membership, the same as at the beginning of the 112th Congress) are of Asian, South Asian, or Pacific Islander ancestry. Twelve of them (all Democrats) serve in the House, and one (a Democrat) serves in the Senate.
Thirteen Members of the 113th Congress (2.4% of the total membership, the same as at the beginning of the 112th Congress) are of Asian, South Asian, or Pacific Islander ancestry. Twelve of them (all Democrats) serve in the House, and one (a Democrat) serves in the Senate.
There are two American Indian (Native American) Members of the 113th Congress, both of whom are Republican Members of the House.” The report explicitly shows that in USA there is wide discrimination at the political level. The highest percentage is only 8.3%, a very shameful statistics for the leader of the democratic world.
This suggests that at the policy level many benefits which need to be transferred to the disadvantageous groups including blacks , women are not possible due to their less role in decision making.
This disbalance needs to be corrected. There is a greater need of the affirmative actions. There is a great need to provide the reservation to the vulnerable section of the society. Blacks if supported at the government’s functional -occupation level ,many socio-economic problems can be contained. The riots which attracted the global attention can be prevented but American society and its policy planners are not so much sensitive. US needs to reserve the seats for the vulnerable section in legislature, and for the jobs to the vulnerable section. Free fee system needs to be introduced. The mere chanting of affirmative action for land rights for native Americans and non discriminatory policy for races do not bring the real and substantial benefits unless all depressed ones find representation in important institutions.
They have to learn that an inclusive society is the only solution. India has many shortcomings but has successfully attempted to make the society inclusive by the application of reservation system. Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are well protected at the political representative and government employment level. US may learn a lesson from its democratic partner.
Dr. Vivek Kumar Srivastava is presently Assistant Professor in CSJM Kanpur University[affiliated college],Vice Chairman CSSP, email: [email protected]
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